Tata's all set to come with a house for just Rs 32,000!

Business

oi-Monika Nihalani

By Monika Nihalani

Published: Saturday, July 16, 2011, 12:16 [IST]

After capturing the attention of people by launching Nano, the world's cheapest car, Tata Group is stepping up to target rural market by building up a house for mere Rs 32,000 by the end of next year.

A 20-square metre house is a dream project of nearly 15 innovators from Tata Steel's Indian and European operations which can be built in just seven days.

"At present, the housing project is in the pilot stage in 30 locations spread across the country and we are in discussions with various agencies like Coir Board, Jute Board and also state governments," Sumitesh Das, head global research programme of Tata Steel, said to reporters in Hyderabad.

Das was in Hyderabad to participate in a conference on intellectual property management, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He further said that the ultra-cheap homes project was mainly aimed at catering to the housing needs of homeless in the rural India, Das said what one needs to have is a just a patch of land and the Tata"s team will build a 20 square meter house with flat roof in just seven days for Rs 32,000.

'These homes are not going to look like steel godowns since they consist of significant non-steel component as well', he said to reporters.

The life of the house will be 20 years at this stage and may go up as the research goes on, he added.

Apart from the basic version, the company is also working on higher end versions like a 30-square metre home for Rs 44,000 or higher for homes boasting of facilities like a solar panel on the roof or a veranda.

They are also in talks with various state governments that are taking up housing programs for the economically weaker sections.

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